Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. RPT is seeking Bids from qualified individuals or firms to conduct transit bus assembly line inspections for 12 60-foot electric busses to ensure that the vehicles are manufactured in compliance with FTA requirements, including 49 CFR Part 63, “Pre-Award and Post Delivery Audits of Rolling Stock Purchases.” Bidder must have prior experience in transit bus assembly inspection services, and must provide three references upon request. 2. The Bidder will perform the following tasks: a. Prepare a pre-award buy America audit b. Ensure conformance to FTA requirements and certifications c. Review Manufacturing Production Process and Quality Assurance standards d. Prepare a Post Delivery Buy America audit e. Complete a Pre-Delivery Inspection of new vehicles f. Provide regular reportsto the RPT Project Manager 3. Inspections will be performed during all phases of the manufacturing, production and assembly. The successful Bidder will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the above and all other applicable Regulations at the time of manufacture prior to release of the vehicle for shipment to RPT. The bus specifications will be provided to the selected inspection vendor upon a finalized contract with the manufacturer. General elements include, but are not limited to the following: a. Monitor and evaluate critical buildup of body and chassis components, including sidewalls, floor and roof structures. b. Visually verify proper joining of the sidewall, roof and floorstructures. c. Visually verify proper assembly and attachment of all body components. d. Visually identify and verify repair of any air and/or fluid leaks. e. Evaluate routing and dressing of lines, hoses, and wiring and their protection from abrasion and sharp edges and installation of required supports. f. Visually and functionally assure the integrity of electrical circuits and terminals in application and installation. g. Verify uniformity of components, installation of components and alignment of components. h. Verify critical adjustment ofsteering, steering column, and tile mechanism, slack adjusters, door operations, fan shroud clearances and belt tensions. i. Visually inspect alignment of access doors and hinges, floor covering, interior and exterior panels and moldings. j. Inspect for proper thickness, type and adhesion of primers, paints and all coatings. k. Visually verify proper alignment and installation of engine mounting, suspension members and axle mountings. l. Inspect and ensure proper function of all installed systems and sub-systems. 4. The successful Bidder will submit a detailed final report compiled for each vehicle based on the production processes through assembly within 15 (fifteen) days after production completion for each vehicle. The final report shall contain sufficient detail so that RPT may determine that each vehicle has been completed to the required and/or all applicable standards of quality. 5. The successful Bidder shallsubmit the following deliverables within fifteen (15) days after production completion: a. Detailed Inspection recordsincluding suggested FTA inspection forms for each vehicle based upon constant monitoring of the production process by the inspection team. b. Post Delivery reports on each type of vehicle. The Post Delivery shall include all certifications required by 49 CFR 663, a copy of the vehicle manufacturer’s selfcertification of compliance to FMSS, Post Delivery Buy-America checklist, and RPT’s technical specification initialed and dated of the successful Bidder's inspection team. c. Bi-weekly reports to RPT Project Manager. Reports shall include weekly activity reports for the inspection at each plant, a chart listing the progress of each coach, hours of inspection service provided and highlights and/or concern for the two-week period. c. Buy America Analysis 6. Written report to be submitted to the RPT Project Manager. The report will address, but not be limited to: a. Current number of vehiclesinspected and the number of vehicles delivered to RPT. b. Project status, for each vehicle, to include the daily inspector’s production reports as well as the Project Manager's summation of these reports. c. Projectstatus overview. d. General Comments
